Sucker rod hook



E. E. STEVENSON 2,174,911

SUCKER ROD HOOK Filed Sept. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INNTOR BY aATTORNEY w A 5 V w 5 m M 9% Oct. 3, 1939.

E. E. STEVENSON SUCKER ROD HOOK I Filed Sept. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2L- 76 lr-v 42 I I 12 43 66 I 6] 15' I 67 Egg fa h/ard ffffye/zsozz INVTOR ATTOR N EY Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES SUCKER non HOOKEdward E. Stevenson,

Los Angeles, Calif., as-'- signor to Ems'co Derrick & Equipment Comapany, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California ApplicationSeptember 18, 1937, Serial No. 164,531

'10 Claims.

My invention relates to hooks of the general class suitable for use inthe oil producing industry for various hoisting operations andisparticularly suitable for use as a sucker rod hook.

In the oil producing industry it is common practice to raiseor lowersucker rods by use of a sucker rod elevator which is connected to thestring of sucker rods and which is engaged by a sucker rod hook, whichhook is in turn connected to a suitable hoisting cable. It is commonpractice to provide such hooks with safety latches to prevent accidentalunhooking of the elevator from the hook.

The hook of my present invention has been uniquely designed to embodynumerous important features and advantages over the prior art which lendto its safety, efficiency, and convenience of use, which features andadvantages will be pointed out in the course of the followingdescription.

It is an object of my invention to provide a hook which includes a latchadapted to close the hook to prevent unhooking, which latch is slidablypositioned in a latch chamber provided by the body of the hook.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a hook of thecharacter pointed out in the preceding paragraph in which the latch isso positioned and in which the body is so formed that the metal of thebody may be conveniently positioned or distributed to give a maximumstrength.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a hook of thecharacter pointed out in the second preceding paragraph in which thelatch is provided with a release means which is conveniently positionedfor operation by the workman, and which is preferably positionedadjacent the handle of the hook so that the latch may be released whilethe workman has full control over the hook. This is possible due to thefact that the release is positioned so that it may be operated by theworkmans thumb while he has his hand engaged with the handle of thehook.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a hook in whichthe various parts are contained within the streamlined confines of thebody in order that the hook will not catch on obstructions in thederrick.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a hook which iscast with a latch chamber adjacent the hook-shaped portionof the body,and which is cast with an entrance-aper ture throughwhich the latch maybe'inse'rted into the latch chamber. In the preferred form of myinvention the latch chamber and the latch are preferably made in theshape of a quadrangular prism or parallelepipedon. in a stright linebetween latched and unlatched position, with the result that nomachining of the latch or latch chamber is required.

A further object of my invention is to provide a hook in which the bodyis provided with a latch chamber and an entrance opening, and in which arelease member which releasably holds the latch in latched position isinstalled after the latch has been installed in the body and obstructsthe entrance aperture.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a hookhaving aminimum amount of machining and in which the body is cast with a cavitywhich includes a latch chamber, a pocket for receiving a part of thesupporting means for the hook, and an entrance aperture through whichthe latch and the part of the supporting means may be inserted intoplace.

I will now describe the details of construction and preferred form of myinvention. It should be understood, however, that various alterationsand modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention. The preferred form of my invention has beenchosen because it aptly illustrates the various features and advantagesof my invention, and a description thereof will instruct those skilledin the art as to how my invention may be practiced. I do not, however,Wish to be limited to the details of construction illustrated herein,but wish my invention to be broadly construed in accordance with theappended claims.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of myinvention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the hook showing the latchin an unlatched position. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the hookshowing the latch in a latched position.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectiontaken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my invention provides a hook bodygenerally designated by the numeral II. The hook body includes a bodyportion [2, to the upper end of which there is formed a shank l3, and tothe lower side portion of which is formed a bill M. The body portion 12and the bill M- cooperate to provide a The latch 1 moves recess l5having a bottom rounded wall l6, an inner flat wall ll, an outer roundedwall l8, and an upper upwardly and outwardly inclined wall I9. Above thebill 44 there is provided a throat 20 through which the bail or otherconnecting means of a part to be supported by the hook may be extendedto pass into the recess.

It will be seen that the body portion of the hook is streamlined inshape and that the metal is well distributed for strength. Adjacent therecess l5 and extending laterally outwardly and forming the inner wallll are flanges 23 which provide broad faces or walls and also serve tostrengthen the body. At the rearward or rightward part of the bodyportion of the hook body are flanges 23 which extend outwardly onopposite sides of the body portion, and which have rounded faces, asshown best at 24 in Fig. 4, so that this portion of the body portionprovides an integral handle which may be engaged by the operators hand,as shown by light lines 25 in Fig. 2, so that the hookmay beconveniently moved during a hooking or an unhooking operation.

As shown best in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, the body II is provided with acast recess which is divided into a number of connecting parts. Formedin the leftward part of the body portion l2 and the I rightward portionof the bill I4 is a latch chamber 36 which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5,is of substantially rectangular shape in transverse crosssection andwhich, as shown in Fig. 3, is of rectangular shape in a verticaltransverse crosssection, and which also is substantially rectangular inshape in vertical longitudinal cross-section, as shown in Fig. 1. Thelatch chamber 30 has vertical side walls 3| which are fiat as shown, abottom 32 which also is fiat as shown, and a front wall 33 which islikewise flat. Where the various walls 3| to 33 connect together thecorners are rounded so that casting of the body may be convenientlydone. It will be seen from an inspection of the drawings that the latchchamber 30 extends through the recess l5 and throat 20 and is directlyconnected thereto above, below, and on the front and rear edges thereof.

Formed to the rear of thelatch chamber 30 is a spring cavity 35 whichextends upward from the bottom of the latch chamber 36 along therearward edge thereof terminating at its upper end at a point where anaperture entrance 36 formed in the body H is connected to the latchchamber 30. Formed in the lower part of the shank I3 is a pocket 31which is defined by a front wall 38, side walls 39, and an upperspherical shaped wall 40. This pocket 31 is connected at its rearwardpart to the upper part of the entrance aperture 36 and at its lower partto the upper end of the latch chamber 30.

The number 42 represents the latch of my invention which is of the shapeof a quadrangular prism or parallelepipedon. It is fitted to freelyslide in the chamber 3|] along a vertical axis A--A thereof between anunlatched position, as shown in Fig. 1, downwardly into a latchedposition, as shown in the other views of the drawings. The latch 42 isprovided with a slot 43 which is formed inwardly from the front sidethereof and which aligns with the upper part of the recess [5 and throat26 when in unlatched position. When in latched position, however, theportion 44 of the latch resting directly above the recess 43 obstructsthe throat 20, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus prevents the part held inthe recess from moving outwardly therefrom through the throat.

For the purpose of resiliently retaining the latch in unlatched positionmy invention provides a compression spring 46 which is compressed in thespring cavity 35, its upper end engaging a lug 41 extending rearwardlyfrom the latch 42. The lower end of the spring engages a retainingmember 48 which retains the lower part of the spring in the cavity 35.

The entrance aperture 36, being positioned in the upper part of the bodyportion and the lower part of the shank l3, permits the latch 42 to beinserted therethrough and into the latch chamber 30, the latch passingthrough a position indicated by broken lines 50 in Fig. 1. Before thelatch member is lowered completely into the latch chamber 30 the springand retainer 46 and 48 may be installed. The latch may then be moveddownwardly against the action of the spring 46 into the position shownin Fig. 1.

After the latch has been installed it is convenient to install thesupporting means for the book. This supporting means includes an eye 52and a downwardly extending trunnion or shaft 53 which extends downwardlythrough a bearing opening 54 formed in the shank I3, the lower endthereof projecting into the pocket 31. A portion of the supporting meansrests in the pocket 3'! and includes a nut 55 adapted to be threaded onthe lower threaded end of the shaft 53. Positioned between the nut 55and the upper wall 40 of the pocket 31 is a bearing means 56 whichincludes a roller bearing 51, a conical seat 58, and a retainer 59 whichretains grease in the bearing. The bearing means 56 and nut 55 areplaced in the pocket 31 after the latch 42 has been installed. Theseparts, therefore, act as a stop for the latch 42 against which the latchis held by the spring 46 when the latch is in unlatched position. Thenut and bearing means 55 and 56 may be inserted into place through theupper part of the entrance aperture 36 which is widened as shown in Fig.3.

My invention also provides a release means whereby the latch may bereleasably held in latched position. To accommodate the release meansthe upper part of the body portion I2 is provided with cross-passages:60 and 6| which are in alignment with each other and which extendtransversely of the entrance aperture 36. Connected to the outer end ofthe passage 60 and extending forwardly therefrom is a cavity 62 which isprovided in an enlarged portion 63 provided by the body portion [2.Secured vertically where the passage 60 and cavity 62 connect is a pivot64 which pivotally supports in a horizontal plane a release means 65.The release means 65 extends horizontally through the passage 66, theentrance aperture 36, and the passage 6|. The extending end thereof hasa stop 66 and an engageable lug 61 which is positioned adjacent thehandle 23 for convenient operation by the thumb of the workman, whichthumb is indicated at 63 in Fig. 2, while the workman has his handengaging the handle 23. Extending forwardly from the pivoted end of therelease member 65 is an arm 10, and compressed between the arm and asmall depression 1| formed in the recess 62 is a spring 72 which exertsa force tending to move the release means in a clockwise direction whenlooking downwardly on it, as in Fig. 4. As shown best in Fig. l, thelatch 42 has a rearwardly extending lock lug having a shoulder 16 at itsupper end. The release means 65 is yieldably forced against the lug l5,and when the latch is moved into depressed position the release meansmoves forwardly so as to engage the shoulder I6 and thus retain thelatch. in latched position. The latch cannot move from latched positionthereafter until the, release means is. moved in an anti-clockwisedirection so that the shoulder 16 is, disengaged.

In the use of thehook of my invention the operator engages the handle 23so that. the hook may be moved. as desired. The hook and the bail, orother part of the elevator or device to be supported by the hook, arerelatively moved so that the bail moves through the throat and into therecess. The hook is then moved upwardly relative to the bail so that theweight of the device to. be supported is applied to the latch. Thismoves the latch downwardly relative to the body of the hook until thebail is supported by the hook body. At that time the release means movesinto latching position and the latch 42 is held in latched positionuntil manually released. This prevents the bail of the elevator frombeing inadvertently unhooked from the hook of my invention.

During the course of the preceding description various important detailsof construction of the preferred form of my invention have been pointedout. Likewise, in the introduction or statement of invention theessential features and objects of my invention have been emphasized. Inthe appended claims my inventionis broadly defined in accordance withthe true scope of my invention and the claims cover variousmodifications in which my invention may be embodied.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a hook, the combination including: a hook-shaped body formed toprovide a recess and a throat connecting therewith, and having a latchchamber with an entrance aperture at its upper rearward part, whichentrance aperture leads outwardly through the rear wall of said body; alatch insertable into said latch chamber through said entrance apertureand being located wholly within said latch chamber and being slidable ina rectilinear movement in said latch chamber from an unlatched positionin which said throat is open into a latched position in which saidthroat is closed; and release means supported by said body and extendingtransversely through at least a part of said entrance aperture forreleasably holding said latch in latched position.

2. In a hook, the combination including: a body providing a hook-shapedportion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from saidhook-shaped portion, there being formed in said body a cavity whichincludes a latch chamber in said hook-shaped portion, a pocket in saidshank, and an entrance aperture formed in said body; a latch adapted tobe inserted through said entrance aperture into said latch chamber, saidlatch having an unlatched position and a latched position; a supportingmeans for said body engageable with said shank and including a portionresting in said pocket which acts as a stop for said latch when saidlatch is in unlatched position; and release means supported by said bodyfor releasably holding said latch in latched position.

3. A body for use in a hook consisting of a hook-shaped portion having arecess and throat, and a shank extending from said hook-shaped portion,there being formed in said body a cavity which includes a latch chamberformed in said hook-shaped body in communication with said recess andthroat and adapted to receive a latch said chamber having front, rear,side, and bottom walls defining substantialy a parallelepipedon andextending substantialy vertically and having its upper limit. above saidthroat and its lower limit below said recess, a pocket formed in saidshank above and in communication with said latch chamber through theupper open end thereof and in back of the front wall of said body whichforms the upper limit of said throat adapted to receive a portion of asupporting means, and an entrance aperture at the rear of said body andin communication with said latch chamber and: said pocket, said entranceaperture being of sufficient size to allow a latch and said portion of asupporting means to be inserted therethrough.

4. In a hook, the combination including: a body providing a: hook-shapedportion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from saidhook-shaped portion, and said body having a cavity which includes alatch chamber in said hook-shaped. portion which has its upper limitabove said throat and its lower limit below said recess, and an entranceaperture leading from the, upper rearward part of said latch chamberoutward through the back wall of said body; a latch adapted to beinserted through said entrance aperture into said latch chamber, saidlatch being supported in said latch chamber for vertical rectilinearmovement, and having a slot which is aligned with said throat when inunlatched position; and manually releasable release means situatedpartly in said cavity and releasably engageable with said latch forholding said latch in latched position.

5. In a hook, the combination including: a body providing a hook-shapedportion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from saidhook-shaped portion, and said body having a cavity which includes alatch chamber in said hook-shaped portion which has its upper limitabove said throat and its lower limit below said recess, a pocket abovesaid latch member, and an entrance aperture leading from the upperrearward part of said latch chamber and from said pocket outward throughthe back wall of said body; a latch adapted to be inserted through saidentrance aperture into said latch chamber, said latch being supported insaid latch chamber for vertical rectilinear movement, and having a slotwhich is aligned with said throat when in unlatched position; meansinsertable through said entrance aperture into said pocket, said meansserving as an upper Wall of said latch chamber; and manually releasablerelease means situated partly in said cavity and releasably engageablewith said latch for holding said latch in latched position.

6. In a hook, the combination including: a body providing a hook-shapedportion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from saidhook-shaped portion, and said body having a cavity which includes alatch chamber in said hook-shaped portion which has its upper limitabove said throat and its lower limit below said recess, and an entranceaperture leading from the upper reaward part of said latch chamberoutward through the back wall of said body; a latch adapted to beinserted through said entrance aperture into said latch chamber, saidlatch being supported in said latch chamber for vertical rectilinearmovement, and having a slot which is aligned with said throat when inunlatched position; manually releasably release means situated partly insaid cavity and releasably engageable with said latch for holding saidlatch in latched position; and resilient means in said latch cham- 75ber to the rear of said latch for resiliently holding said latch inunlatched position.

7. In a hook, the combination including: a body providing a hook-shapedportion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from saidhook-shaped portion, and said body having a cavity which includes alatch chamber of substantially parallelepipedon shape in said hookshapedportion which has its upper limit above said throat and its lower limitbelow said recess, and an entrance aperture leading from the upperrearward part of said latch chamber outward through the back wall ofsaid body; a latch of substantially parallelepipedon shape adapted to beinserted through said entrance aperture into said latch chamber, saidlatch being shorter than said latch chamber but being of nearly the samecross-sectional size so that the side Walls of said latch chamber permitonly a vertical rectilinear movement of said latch, and having a slotwhich is aligned with said throat when in unlatched position; andmanually releasable release means situated partly in said cavity andreleasably engageable with said latch for holding said latch in latchedposition.

8. In a hook, the combination including: a body providing a hook-shapedportion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from saidhook-shaped portion, and said body having a cavity which includes alatch chamber of substantially parallelepipedon shape in said hookshapedportion which has its upper limit above said throat and its lower limitbelow said recess, a pocket above said latch chamber, and an entranceaperture leading from the upper rearward part of said latch chamber andfrom said pocket outward through the back wall of said body; a latch ofsubstantially parallelepipedon shape adapted to be inserted through saidentrance aperture into said latch chamber, said latch being shorter thansaid latch chamber but being of nearly the same cross-sectional size sothat the side walls of said latch chamber permit only a verticalrectilinear movement of said latch, and having a slot which is alignedwith said throat when in unlatched position; means insertable throughsaid entrance aperture into said pocket, said means serving as an upperwall of said latch chamber; and manually releasable release meanssituated partly in said cavity and releasably engageable with said latchfor holding said latch in latched position.

9. In a hook, the combination including: a

body providing a hook-shaped portion having a recess and throat, and ashank extending from said hook-shaped portion, and said body having acavity which includes a latch chamber in said hook-shaped portion whichhas its upper limit above said throat and its lower limit below saidrecess, a pocket above said latch chamber, and an entrance apertureleading from the upper rearward part of said latch chamber and from saidpocket outward through the back wall of said body; a latch adapted to beinserted through said entrance aperture into said latch chamber, saidlatch being supported in said latch chamber for Vertical rectilinearmovement, and having a slot which is aligned with said throat when inunlatched position; supporting means for said body extending throughsaid shank and including means insertable through said entrance apertureinto said pocket, said means serving as an upper wall of said latchchamber; and manually releasable release means situated partly in saidcavity and releasably engageable with said latch for holding said latchin latched position.

10. In a hook, the combination including: a body providing a hook-shapedportion having a recess and throat, and a shank extending from saidhook-shaped portion, and said body having a cavity which includes alatch chamber of sub-,

stantially parallelepipedon shape in said hookshaped portion which hasits upper limit above said throat and its lower limit below said recess,a pocket above said latch chamber, and an entrance aperture leading fromthe upper rearward part of said latch chamber and from said pocketoutward through the back wall of said body; a latch of substantiallyparallelepipedon shape adapted to be inserted through said entranceaperture into said latch chamber, said latch being shorter than saidlatch chamber but being of nearly the same cross-sectional size so thatthe side walls of said latch chamber permit only a vertical rectilinearmovement of said latch, and having a slot which is aligned with saidthroat when in unlatched position; supporting means for said bodyextending through said shank and including means insertable through saidentrance aperture into said pocket, said means serving as an upper wallof said latch chamber; and manually releasable release means situatedpartly in said cavity and releasably engageable with said latch forholding said latch in latched position.

EDWARD E. STEVENSON.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2;17L ,911.' Octoberfi, 19 9.

EDWARD E. STEVENSON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5sec- 0nd column, line L O, claim 5, for the word "member" read chamber;line 65, claim 6, for "reaward" read rearward; line 72, same claim, forreleasably" read releasable; and that the said Letters Patent shouldberead with this correction therein that the same may conform to therecord of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of December, A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

